A common question I receive is to interview any photographers that are shooting destination weddings and ask how they got started and what they do to keep the bookings coming in. In this interview, you will learn how to build your own destination wedding photography business from Michael Steingard, who shoots over 50% of his weddings away from home.
Interestingly, Michael is starting to concentrate on booking more weddings closer to home but that doesn't stop him from sharing absolutely everything he can to help you get started in promoting yourself as a destination wedding photographer and some of the great ideas he and his uncle employ to stay in the minds of couples looking to marry on location.
What I do love about this interview is the different approach Michael and his uncle take in attracting clients because of their polar opposite personalities. It just reinforces that no matter who you are, you can be successful and do the things you want to do with who you are. You don't need to be like or try to be like anyone else.
That's not to say you can't learn a ton of good stuff from those that have gone before you and short-cut the process.
Here's some more of what we cover:
Who wouldn't want to work on location in places like this!
What's on Offer
If there is one thing that stands out about Michael Steingard, it's his photography. I know you'll want to know more about his workflow so that's what I asked him about for premium members.
Although I try to keep the content as business focussed as possible, it was clear from the main interview that Michael's workflow plays a big part in what he does day to day.
In the audio, Michael reveals his biggest time saver for editing that has allowed him to easily edit up to 100 photos at a wedding reception in preparation for a knock out slideshow presentation.
Also, as a Premium Member, you also have access to the interview with Daniel Griffiths and how he suggests you get started in Destination Wedding Photography which is different to Michaels approach but sounds incredibly effective. Well, I know it's incredibly effective… I spoke to Daniel recently and he's off to Europe to spend the Australian winter there in 2014 and he's booked solid most weekends. That interview is here.
What is your big takeaway?
Is destination wedding photography something you'd like to pursue? I'd love to hear about your experiences so far, have you had any success or are you still looking to book your first wedding away from home?
What's your biggest takeaway following this interview with Michael – what is the one thing that you'd like to implement or remember from what he had to share? Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.
If you have any questions for Michael that I missed, a specific question you'd like to ask or if you just want to say thanks to Michael for coming on the show, feel free to add them below.
iTunes ratings, reviews and Shout-Outs
Each week before recording the podcast, I check iTunes for any reviews but this week is a little different – I'm on holidays so I've prepared these show notes ahead of time and there aren't any new reviews to report.
If you haven't already, please don't let that stop you leaving a rating and review though!
The iTunes reviews make a big difference to the podcast being ranked well and found in the iTunes store. If you have the time and are happy to leave an honest rating and review, head over to iTunes. Don't feel your comments have to be long, involved or gushy, an honest opinion is all I ask.
Don't be shy about leaving your business name in the review either – that way I can add a link in the show-notes and show my appreciation with a proper thanks and a Google loving back-link to your website.
If you'd like to get in touch, ask a question or make a suggestion for the show, you can email me [email protected], find me on Twitter https://twitter.com/andrewhellmich or on Facebook at https://photobizx.com/facebook – I'd love to hear from you!
Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
Majestic Resort at Punta Cana – one of the venues Michael shoots a lot of weddings
Becca and Chris – The Irish Couple that Michael Photographed while on holidays
Canon REALiS SX80 Mark II Multimedia Projector 1400×1050 SXGA+ 900:1 3000 lumens
Canon TS-E 45mm f/2.8 Tilt Shift Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
NOTE: The Canon Projector I use are soon to be discontinued. However, I heard great reviews about image quality for photographs in particular. It's the only projector I've used up till today, that I feel represents the screen on my laptop in a way that I feel proud to show off.
The Resources Page
Remember the ever expanding resources page that has a listing of products, programs, hardware, books and directories mentioned in each episode of the show. If you're looking for something that a guest has mentioned on a previous episode but just can't remember who or what it was – you'll find it listed in order on the resources page.
If you've been enjoying the podcast, I'd love for you to tell just one other portrait or wedding photographer about it – it could be in a Facebook Group you're a part of, a photography forum, a photographer friend or on twitter. Any help in growing the audience of the show means a better show for you in the future with bigger name guests and a higher quality podcast.
If you do have a twitter account, simply click here: https://photobizx.com/tweet or use the share buttons below to help spread the word.
That's it for me this week, hope everything is going well for you in life and business.
Thanks and speak soon
Andrew
Its a small world after all!! Its funny listening to a podcast from Australia, on the other side of the world, and then I hear an interview of a photographer thats less than a half hours drive away! Actually my last wedding that I shot this fall was in Stratford.
Lots of great info as usual. It sure would be great to get into destination wedding photography!
It really is a small world isn’t it Terry.
After chatting to Michael, I’m sure he can help if you have any specific questions in regard to your area and booking a destination wedding or two. It’d be great to have someone so close to bounce a few ideas off.
Hey Andrew
I hope you are having a great holiday in Japan!
Great episode and I can’t believe you are still podcasting on holiday! That is dedication!!!!
Great episode from Michael with lots of information on destination weddings! I think my main takeaway is that you can book weddings in so many different ways and you don’t always need to rely on google!
Hi Shane, the holiday is going awesome, so much snow – this place is incredible!
Great takeaway and I agree, there is so much more to marketing than just Google. I love the idea of simply being helpful to others as a form of marketing. I think it was Zig Zigglar that said “Give enough people what they want and you’ll get what you want” – or something like that.
However it goes, being helpful on your website with posts, videos on forums, in person or wherever you can will always bode well for you.
Great interview Andrew! I’ve been a big fan of Michael and Phil’s since we booked them for our wedding a few years back. Their creativity were the catalysts in taking myself from a hobby-photo-hack to my new-found 2nd career as a wedding photographer. My take on their approach to finding clients is one of Karma, Phil freely offers his expertise to Brides planning their weddings. In turn, he is renowned on forums as the authority for popular destination wedding resorts who just so happens to be a great photog. Michael is a little less vocal, however his work is exceptional and Brides who get a sniff of his images are immediately hooked. Two separate, yet successful models Brides naturally gravitate to. Thanks for taking time from the slopes Andrew, keep up the great work!
Hey Vaughn, how cool that you used Michael and Phil for your wedding!
The way you summed up their approach to booking clients is exactly the feeling I received from Michael during the interview.
I love seeing Michael’s photo’s show up in my Facebook feed so I can only imagine you have amazing wedding photos.
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Michael hit the nail on the head when me talked about how important it is for us Photographer’s to connect with our clients. That is such golden advice. Meanwhile all the big photo gear manufacturer’s get inside our heads with Gear Gear! and more Gear! and it’s so easy to fall for as we love the latest news of some new fast zoom lens or whatever. But I think it really comes down to what his Grand Father said about how “If you’re nice to people you’re half way there”. Such simple advice, yet so powerful. My clients don’t care about my 5D Mark III. They will be more impressed with the fun they had at the photo shoot and the creativity in which their images were made than any camera I could go in debt for.
But big business wants us to “buy this” and “buy that” or “OMG did you hear about Canon’s new 7D Mark II yet?”…or whatever the latest news is. It’s all designed to make us buy their $hit and make them richer. I say the hell with that! Let’s make “us” richer by being better communicators, better relating with our clients and forming new networks of friends who will eventually need our services. Because in the end, the client usually goes with the photographer who they like (people-wise) the most as opposed to the photographer who is the absolute biggest and baddest in town and who shoots his/her weddings with the latest and greatest gear.
This interview was excellent, Andrew. Thank you for introducing us to Michael. Such a nice and well-rounded guy. It’s sort of hard to believe that he says he’s more quiet and reserved. He’s sounds pretty awesome to me.
Thanks,
Joey Joiner
Fort Worth, TX
USA
Glad you enjoyed the interview Joey and I agree, there’s way more to photography and business than the gear we’re using.
We experience so many people hosting destination weddings in Austin (the bride, groom and all their friends and family are from a completely different place) that it feels like we are living in a foreign place. Nice article and cast!
Thanks Jonathan – hope you picked up a few ideas that you can implement to help attract couples to your business that you may not already be using.
Great stuff. Love that he is a LR only guy also. You don’t need PS 🙂 thanks again for a great podcast. Great portraits also
Thanks Joe – as someone who doesn’t use Lightroom at all, maybe I should take a closer look?
[…] Gaelene and I did our first “Lone Ranger” (ie. Not as second shooters, strictly for our business) wedding during the week and it was a destination wedding in Townsville – Hows that for a first up wedding!! Cyclone Ita seriously threatened it there for a few days and we even had our flights delayed for a day so we were lucky we built a little bit of fat into the schedule allowing for hiccups along the way. Thanks for the destination wedding tips Micheal Steingard in Episode 47. […]